Outdoor dining is slated to return in Oak Bluffs this summer.
Selectmen approved multiple applications from restaurants for outdoor seating at their meeting Tuesday, signing off on requests from Red Cat Kitchen, Coop De Ville, The Links at Martha’s Vineyard and The Barn, Bowl & Bistro.
The Barn’s application was approved on condition that deliveries and pickups take place on Uncas avenue, and it will be subject to further review in June amid ongoing complaints from neighbors about noise.
The board postponed applications from Lobsterville Bar and Grille, the Portuguese American Club and The Alley to a later meeting.
In other business, parks commissioner Amy Billings said the town has settled out of court with Thomas Hjerpe, the person who admitted to cutting down a tree in Ocean Park without permission.
Ms. Billings said Mr. Hjerpe wrote the town a check for $2,025, which covers the planting of a new catalpa tree and two years of maintenance.
At a February meeting, the board voted to take legal action against Mr. Hjerpe, but Ms. Billings said a small claims civil action was not necessary. “I couldn’t waste any of the town’s money anymore to take it any further than that, it seemed a little silly,” Ms. Billings said. “We will be replacing the tree. The tree has been ordered, the stump has been ground. It is what it is.”
In other parks business, Ms. Billings said her committee is hoping to bring back Sunday concerts in Ocean Park this summer. “Obviously it will all fall under Covid regulations depending on what’s happening, but we figured it’s the best place to do it in a socially distant manner,” Ms. Billings said.
Town library director Allyson Malik also announced that the library will be opening to the public again in the coming weeks. Ms. Malik said the library will do a soft opening starting May 1.
“We’ve put up some barriers to protect the staff . . . our computer usage is going to have to be truncated and you have to make an appointment to do that. So, things are going to look different,” Ms. Malik said.
Tuesday’s meeting was also the last for selectmen Greg Coogan, who is not seeking reelection after 18 years on the board. Before the meeting ended, Mr. Coogan’s fellow board members voiced their appreciation.
“Greg has been an important influence on the guidance of the town,” selectman Brian Packish said. “There’s been a lot of challenges and you’ve worked really hard.”
Mr. Coogan returned the thanks.
“Whoever fills my seat please do what I have tried to do, listen,” he said, “You don’t have to talk all the time but you do have to be deliberate.”
Comments (2)
Comments
Comment policy »